Latest News

British Bookmakers Set to Make Record Contribution for Rights to Show Horse Racing

Published

3 years ago

October 4, 2023

british-bookmakers-set-to-make-record-contribution-for-rights-to-show-horse-racing

Reading Time: 3 minutes

British bookmakers are on track to make a record contribution to horse racing next year – with the bill for media rights forecast to increase by nearly £30m.

The Betting and Gaming Council’s five biggest members for horse race betting, Entain, Flutter, bet365, 888/William Hill and Betfred, expect to see a record cost increase to broadcast races.

In 2022, BGC members paid £270.1m for the rights to live stream races for customers and show them in bookmakers.

But that cost is forecast to rise to £285.3m this year, an increase of 5.6%, with members estimating a further increase to £315.2m in 2024, a further bump of 10.5%.

The combined increase for media rights costs is now expected to rise by 16.7% between 2022 and 2024.

The figures are based on data supplied by the Betting and Gaming Council’s five biggest members for horse race betting, then adjusted to include smaller operators, who must also pay for media rights.

Michael Dugher, CEO of Betting and Gaming Council, said: “BGC members are already making a record contribution to horse racing and these figures show that is only going to increase.

“This comes despite a reduction in betting turnover on racing in the last five years and a worrying decline in participation in horse race betting overall.

“Horse racing remains a hugely important, world-leading sport, enjoyed by millions of fans and like the betting industry it continues to support large numbers of jobs.

“I know racing is trying to modernise and reach out to new fans, while also trying to bounce back from the Covid pandemic and deal with some difficult economic headwinds, plus deal with the hit on its funding caused by the Government. The betting industry is dealing with many of the same pressures on our revenues and costs.

“The BGC and our members remain fully committed to working together with the leadership of the sport, including the BHA and others, to ensure a better future for racing. But the fact that we are making a record and growing contribution to the sport cannot be ignored.”

The forecast costs come after the BGC announced their members directly contributed £384m to British horse racing last year in levy, media rights and sponsorship deals.

These figures showed an increase on previous estimates for the regulated sector’s contribution, which had placed it at around £350m a year.

In addition, bookmakers spent £125m on marketing to promote racing and betting through advertisements and partnerships, which helps secure vital terrestrial coverage of the sport and raise revenue for print newspaper titles.

As well as the increased costs for media rights, levy payments are projected to be £99m in 2022/2023, according to the Horserace Betting Levy Board.

This record investment also enabled horse racing to use some of these revenues to deliver record prize money of £179.3m in 2022.

Horse racing is the second biggest sport in the UK, second only to football, with more than five million people attending around 1400 fixtures annually across 59 racecourses.

However, its popularity is in decline. In 2007, 17% of the population participated in horse race betting in the previous year, but that fell to 10% in 2018.

Meanwhile football overtook horse racing betting around the same time between 2017/2018.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has committed to reviewing the Horseracing Levy by next year.

The Horseracing Levy, which is administered by the Horserace Betting Levy Board, goes towards improving the sport, breeding and boosting veterinary care.

Betting operators are working closely with the British Horseracing Authority and racing stakeholders on much needed reforms to the fixture list and race programme which should increase commercial returns from the levy and media rights.

The regulated betting industry fully supports this once-in-a-generation opportunity to modernise horse racing so it can realise its full commercial potential.

The BGC is also working closely with the government on the proposed reforms from the White Paper to ensure those who enjoy betting can continue to do so without unnecessary intrusion, while introducing improved safeguards for the minority who struggle.

Betting shops currently support around 42,000 jobs, contribute £1bn a year in tax to the Treasury and another £60m in business rates to local councils.

The wider regulated betting and gaming industry contributes £7.1bn to the economy, generates £4.2bn in tax and supports 110,000 jobs.

In April DCMS unveiled the Government’s new White Paper on gambling reform, including a number of key measures the BGC had campaigned for.

Those included a new mandatory Ombudsman for the regulated sector, enhanced spending checks online and a new mandatory levy to fund research, education and treatment to tackle gambling related harm and problem gambling.

Each month in Great Britain around 22.5m adults have a bet and the most recent Health Survey for England estimated that 0.4% of the adult population are problem gamblers.

Meanwhile the unsafe, unregulated gambling black market online is growing in the UK, with the numbers betting on these sites doubling in recent years, and the amount staked in the billions.

Related Topics:latest-news UK Western Europe

Up Next

Diamond King 3 Secures Type Approval in Romania

Don't Miss

First Major Step in Preventing Gambling Harm in Victoria

Delulu Gaming

The Most Anticipated Studio Debut of the Year: DELULU Gaming Officially Enters the iGaming Market

Published

8 minutes ago

July 17, 2026

Wladimir P.

the-most-anticipated-studio-debut-of-the-year:-delulu-gaming-officially-enters-the-igaming-market

The new-generation game studio makes its official debut backed by integrations with major platforms, and a private Soft Launch Dinner in London that introduced the brand to the C-level circle of the iGaming world.

DELULU Gaming has officially entered the iGaming market — and from day one, the studio has made clear it is not here to blend in. The brand marked its debut with a private Soft Launch Dinner in London, held alongside iGB London, introducing DELULU to a curated circle of 250+ C-level industry leaders.

Another milestone came even before the official market launch: DELULU’s debut portfolio went live on Stake, one of the world’s most influential iGaming brands.

Partnerships in Place from Day One

The launch is backed by key partnerships already in place. DELULU Gaming has completed its integration with SoftGamings, one of the industry’s leading aggregators, giving operators across the network immediate access to the studio’s portfolio. SOFTSWISS joins as Strategic Technology Partner, bringing reliable infrastructure, deep industry expertise, and a trusted ecosystem to support DELULU’s growth from the very first step. The studio is also working with Tequity and several other partners, with more to be announced.

And this is only the beginning. New partnerships and integrations are already in the pipeline, with more announcements to follow as DELULU expands its reach across the industry.

Arthur Sheikhaliev, CEO of DELULU Gaming, commented: “Launching DELULU is the result of a bold vision and the work of an exceptional team. We enter the market with strong partnerships and a portfolio we’re proud of. From this point, our focus is on building DELULU into a trusted global brand.”

DELULU Gaming is already expanding its presence across the industry. The team is actively meeting operators and aggregators interested in integrating DELULU content, with meetings available both online and at upcoming industry events throughout 2026.

Built for a Market That Rewards Quality

DELULU enters at a moment when operators are prioritising quality and distinctive experiences over volume. The studio’s answer: games built around player behaviour, mechanical clarity, and a visual identity designed to stand out from the first frame.

The debut portfolio reflects that approach:

Candy Chaos → 7×7 cluster pays with bomb mechanics and player- selectable Free Spin volatility. Controlled chaos engineered for high engagement and serious replay value.

Dogs Arena → ways-to-win game with expandable reels (4×5 up to 6×5), player-selectable volatility   via Wild fighter characters, and scatter-triggered Free Spins with three Barrel colour modes.

Oh My Gods → 6×5 pay-anywhere grid with a dual Free Spins system: choose Zeus or Thor, each unlocking totally different FS modes. Ends with a Final Gods Clash that multiplies total win x3 if your god wins.

MLK Voyage → 5×4 reel adventure with three scatter-triggered bonus modes, Barrel Boost progression, and max win up to 20,000x. Old-school energy with new-school mechanical ambition.

Portal Plinko → sci-fi instant-win with adjustable risk tiers, multi-ball drops, and a free-only GIGA Ball Surge locking multipliers up to 100x. Plinko reimagined for players who want every drop to count.

Every title is stream-ready from day one, with bold visuals, tight mechanics, and math engineered for emotional impact. New titles are already in development with more releases planned in the coming months.

About DELULU

DELULU is a new-generation iGaming game studio focused on delivering high-quality, distinctive gaming experiences. The game studio creates games with bold visuals, tight mechanics, and math engineered for emotional impact. DELULU knows how to win long-term operator trust through titles that players recognize, streamers love to showcase, and the market can’t ignore.

The post The Most Anticipated Studio Debut of the Year: DELULU Gaming Officially Enters the iGaming Market appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Delulu Gaming

The Most Anticipated Studio Debut of the Year: DELULU Gaming Officially Enters the iGaming Market

Published

8 minutes ago

July 17, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

Another milestone came even before the official market launch: DELULU’s debut portfolio went live on Stake, one of the world’s most influential iGaming brands.

Partnerships in Place from Day One

And this is only the beginning. New partnerships and integrations are already in the pipeline, with more announcements to follow as DELULU expands its reach across the industry.

Built for a Market That Rewards Quality

The debut portfolio reflects that approach:

Candy Chaos → 7×7 cluster pays with bomb mechanics and player- selectable Free Spin volatility. Controlled chaos engineered for high engagement and serious replay value.

Dogs Arena → ways-to-win game with expandable reels (4×5 up to 6×5), player-selectable volatility   via Wild fighter characters, and scatter-triggered Free Spins with three Barrel colour modes.

MLK Voyage → 5×4 reel adventure with three scatter-triggered bonus modes, Barrel Boost progression, and max win up to 20,000x. Old-school energy with new-school mechanical ambition.

About DELULU

The post The Most Anticipated Studio Debut of the Year: DELULU Gaming Officially Enters the iGaming Market appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

BGaming

Weekend Reels | Week 29: Slot Drops & Trends

Published

3 hours ago

July 17, 2026

Wladimir P.

weekend-reels-|-week-29:-slot-drops-&-trends

Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by Eastern European Gaming

EveryMatrix-owned studio Fantasma Games has launched Bonus Bullets, expanding EveryMatrix’s exclusive games portfolio with a new three-reel slot featuring modern bonus mechanics. The game introduces a Bullet Prize mechanic that awards instant cash prizes or one of four jackpots when Bullet symbols align across all three reels.

High 5 Games is marking the 25th anniversary of its Green Machine franchise with a new title, Green Machine Blitz. The company said the game will include a “fast-paced duplication mechanic,” activated collection features, four jackpots, and a LootLink bonus. According to High 5 Games, special symbols can duplicate across the reels to create chain reactions.

BGaming has launched The Godfather: 3 Pillars of Power, a new slot title built on The Godfather film franchise. According to the supplier, the game includes the likeness of Vito Corleone, portrayed by Marlon Brando, alongside the film’s voice and musical score.

Evoplay has launched Flame of Ra, a new ancient Egypt-themed online slot featuring scatter-triggered free spins and a bonus buy option. The game is played on a 5×4 grid. Wild symbols substitute for all regular symbols, while landing three or more scatter symbols anywhere on the reels activates the free spins feature.

Playson has launched 4 Chili Pots: Hold and Win, a new slot built around Hold and Win and Pots mechanics with two bonus modes and jackpots reaching 10,000x. The game runs on a 5×3 grid and triggers a Hold and Win Bonus Game with Chili Features when red, orange or green Chili Bonus symbols land, combining with enlarged matching chilis above the reels

Blueprint Gaming has released a new slot, Wolf Fury Fire Blitz, built around an “evolving Fire Blitz mechanic” and two bonus paths: Fire Spins and Blitz Spins. The game uses a Fire Blitz logo above the reels as a meter. In the base game and Power Play, the supplier said every Cash and Wolf symbol contributes to the meter, with boosts able to add extra symbols.

Wazdan has launched 16 Coins Betsson, a bespoke branded version of its 16 Coins title, in partnership with Betsson. The release adapts Wazdan’s Coins series format for Betsson players, combining the original game’s mechanics with operator-specific branding. The game is played across 16 independent reels in a 4×4 layout.

Booming Games has launched Tasty Bonanza Max Scatter, a new online slot released on 16 July 2026 from the supplier’s Malta base. The title is the second game in its Max Scatter series and uses a 6×4 grid with Scatter Pays, cascading wins and a stated maximum win potential of 15,000x.